Chapter 2
10 years ago
Ashlyn’s POV:
Paris. The most romantic city in the world. That’s what everyone thinks when they think of Paris, right? And there I was, heartbroken.
Well, to be more specific, I wasn’t technically heartbroken. At least not romantically. I was there with the U-21 national team. We had just taken second place in the U-21 World Championships. We were ranked #3 coming into the tournament, but we really thought we were going to take it all. We had breezed through the group stage, then routed Portugal in the quarter finals. We had a tough game against Brazil in the semis, but we pulled off a 2-1 victory. Our confidence was high. Only Japan stood in our way.
It was minute 87. We were tied 1-1. It looked like we were going into overtime, but we had been on the offensive for most of the second half. Our attack had been relentless, but we just hadn’t been able to put another one in the back of the net. The Japanese looked tired. Then it happened. Whitney Engen was beaten down by the corner by Miyami. Miyami crossed the ball right on the six, and as I followed it with my eyes, ready to jump for the grab, the inexplicable happened: I tripped my own feet. Not all the way down, but I stumbled just enough to put me off, and in that moment, Ogimi had managed to get a head on the ball and the damn thing waltzed across the goal line. Had I not stumbled I would have grabbed it. But I didn’t. And four minutes later the game was over. So, I guess I’m not exactly heartbroken, but I am really bummed out.
“Hey”, I heard her say. I turned back and looked at Ali Krieger. After the game, the team had come back to the hotel, and then a bunch of us had come down to the hotel lobby for drinks. Now it was just the two of us remaining at the table. Ali was sitting across the table from me and staring at me with her lovely brown eyes. We’d met just a few months ago at the national training camp. We hadn’t been roommates there, but we had become close. Close enough that I had developed feelings for her that were beyond teammate, and beyond friend. I had noticed her the first day at camp. She had long, flowing brown hair and beautiful eyes. I saw her standing in the equipment line the first day of camp, and I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. I made it a point to sit down next to her during our first meal, and we’ve been friends ever since. Over the next two months I found myself falling for her. I’ve found myself staring at her when she’s not looking, and since we’ve been roommates for this tournament I’ve even stared at her a few times while she’s been sleeping. Not in a creepy way, but the way you stare at someone you’re smitten by. And it’s not just that she’s beautiful. It’s her passion for the game, her sweet personality, her wit. When I had learned that we would be roommates for this tournament, my heart swelled. I mean, this obviously wasn’t a vacation. We came here with a purpose, but that didn’t mean that maybe other things couldn’t happen. I’ll be honest – I’ve fallen for this woman sitting across the table from me. She inspires me, she makes me laugh, and she comforts me. Like she is doing right now.
“Hey, Ash – you okay?”
I came back to the present and slowly nod my head. “I guess so”, I said and looked down.
Ali reached across the table and touched my arm. “Hey – that could have happened to anyone”, she said. She lightly rubbed her index finger on my skin. We’re not together. We’re just friends. And most likely that’s how she’ll always see me. But it’s these kinds of little things she does, like rubbing my arm with her finger, that make me feel like we should be together. It would be right. I know it would.
“Thanks”, I said. I smiled at her slightly and then finished my drink.
“It sucks we couldn’t pull it off. But there’s always next time”, she said consolingly. I know she wanted to win as much as anyone, but at this moment she was trying to cheer me up. She traced her index finger down my arm and then put her hand on top of mine. She gave it a light squeeze. “Hey – at least we got to eat some good food. Better than the stuff at training camp.” She smiled, trying to lighten the mood.
I laughed slightly and looked up at her. She’s staring back at me with her beautiful eyes. “Yeah, for sure.” I was still down in the dumps, but being with her was making me feel better.
The waitress approached our table. “Anything else for you ladies?” she asked as she took our empty glasses. I shook my head.
“No, we’re fine, thanks”, Ali said. “We’ll close out. Charge it to room 438.” The waitress left, and there we were. Me and the girl I’ve fallen for.
“So, you wanna head up to the room?” she asked me.
“I don’t know. I’m not sure”, I said. “I’m tired, but I just don’t think I can sleep right now.” I looked at her and said, “I’m really bummed out.” What I wondered to myself but didn’t say out loud is this: is losing worse because I feel like I let down someone I’m into?
Ali stared at me for a moment and then said, “C’mon. Let’s get out of here. Let’s go walk for a bit. It’s nice out, and the fresh air will help make you feel better.” She smiled and stood up. I smiled back, stood up, and we walked out into the Paris night.
********
Ali’s POV:
We walked in silence along the river near our hotel. It was a clear summer night in Paris, and there was a slight breeze blowing. I looked over at Ashlyn, and I felt terrible. Terrible because the girl who was becoming my best friend and who I was maybe developing feelings for was so bummed out, and there didn’t seem to be anything I could do about it. I had noticed Ashlyn the first day of national training camp. She was stretching on the field before our morning training session, and I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. She had this sculpted physique and chiseled facial features that gave her a striking beauty, kind of like a Viking goddess, or something. I wanted to go up and introduce myself, but before I knew it we were running around the field. Plus, I’m kind of shy, so I thanked the stars when she took the initiative and sat down next to me that day at lunch. Since then, we had eaten most of our meals together and hung out in the evenings after dinner. We had gone for extra runs together. I found that I was catching myself staring at her, without even noticing, and I would smile to myself when I did. But I’ve never spoken about things with her. For all I know she just sees me as a friend. Plus, we’re teammates, and there’s been so much going on the last few months, gearing up for the tournament and all. We were here with a purpose.
We started to cross a bridge over the river and slowed as we reached the center. We stopped and stared out over the river. The Paris lights lit up the night, reflections dancing in the calm water. We stood, shoulder to shoulder, looking out.
“It’s beautiful down here”, I said, trying to distract her, keep her mind off of the loss.
“Yeah, it is”, she said. “The lights look amazing.”
“They do”, I agreed. “I love how they dance on the water.” We stood in silence for a moment and then I said, “Speaking of water, maybe we can take that trip to Hawaii that we’ve been talking about.” She and I have been talking about taking a vacation to Hawaii. Neither of us had ever been.
“Yeah, that sounds really nice, especially right about now.”
I looked over at her and smiled. Then, for some reason, I moved behind her. Maybe it was the drinks. Maybe it was being in Paris. Maybe it was the warm summer air. Maybe it was the whole situation of us losing, her being so bummed out, and me not knowing what to do to cheer her up. Or maybe it was the fact that this was maybe what I wanted and just didn’t quite know it yet, and my body was moving faster than my heart or my brain. I put my arms around her waist and nuzzled against the back of her neck. She covered my arms with hers and leaned back slightly, still staring at the water.
“Hey”, I said. “You’re amazing.”
“Thanks.”
“You really are”, I said. “Don’t ever doubt that.”
“Thanks”, she said again.
We stayed like that for a few minutes, and then I turned her around to face me, holding her right hand in my left. “You wanna head back?” I asked.
“Sure”, she said. I smiled and then lead us off the bridge and then back to the hotel.
A block before we reached the hotel I let go of her hand. I smiled at her as I did, and she smiled back. I think she understood. It would be weird if anyone we knew or any media or paparazzi saw us walking hand in hand. We went through the lobby and up to our room. I opened the door and ushered her in, then closed and locked the door behind us. I threw my keys onto the small table and then turned and looked at her. She was staring at me, her mouth slightly open.
“Hey”, I said, moving closer.
“Hey”, Ashlyn said back.
“Do you feel better?” I asked as I moved even closer.
“I think so, yeah”, she said. We were close, less than a foot apart. I smiled at her and then took off her fedora and tossed it on the floor. “Ali-“ she started. “What are you-“
“I don’t know”, I said, as I closer still. Less than six inches apart. I wasn't exactly sure of what was happening, but I kept moving.
“Wait, are you sure…” she trailed off.
“I don’t know”, I said again. We were two inches apart. I could feel her breath on me. My mind was scrambling, flip-flopping, tripping, but my body was in motion. “But before I change my mind, stud-“
That was apparently all she needed to hear. She grabbed the back of my neck and slammed my lips into hers. We stayed like that for a hot minute, tongues dancing, and then she practically lifted me up and threw me onto her bed.